Railway-rail joint.



W. M. NICHOLS.

I RAILWAY RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, I916.

Patented July 25, 1916.

earns AS, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-THIRD TO JOHN T.

WATT. M. NICHOLS, IVlAMBRINO, TEX

FFTQE.

CHANLER, OF GRANBURY, TEXAS, AND ONE IHIRD TO JOSEPH L. HARIBER, 0F

NERI, TEXAS.

RAILWAY-BAIL JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 19%.

Application filed May 4, 1916. Serial No. 95,292.

. useful Improvements in Railway-Rail Joints,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to joints for railway rails, and more particularly to means for strengthening the rails at their meeting ends; and the object is to provide a rail joint for the abutting ends of rails which will make the track as strong at the meeting ends of the rails as at any other point and to make the track rigid at the meeting ends of the rails, and to provide a joint which cannot be taken apart by mischievous persons. Other objects and advantages will be fully explained in the following description and the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved rail joint. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fish plate which carries the locking lugs, showing a portion broken for the purpose of showing that the lugs are integral with the fish plate. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a rail and an end view of the joint forming devices. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the key. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a key which has a slight variation from the key of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a joint, showing a variation in the jointforming devices.

Similar characters of reference are used to indicate the same parts throughout the 1 the fish plate 3 and the brace 8 have flanges above and below the brace 9 which sub stantially inclose this, brace, merely leaving space between the flanges 10 and 11 for contraction or compression of the brace 9. The fish plate 4 and the brace are cut out next to the web of the rail so that there will be some space for springing the brace and the fish plate in putting in the keys hereinafter described. Openings 12 are formed in the lugs for keys 13. The end walls of the openings 12 are formed into racks 1a to be engaged by teeth 15 of the keys 13. The lugs 7 project through the webs of the rails and through braces 8 and 9 and though the fish plate 3 and are locked therein by keys 13. The keys 13 are inserted in the lugs by clamping the fish plate 3 and compressing the brace 9 so that the keys will enter the openings in the ends of the lugs. When the keys are inserted, they can be removed only by clamping and compressing the fish plate 3 and the brace 9. The brace 9 is preferably of wood because it can be compressed sulficiently for inserting and removing keys 13. The fish plate 3 may have a projecting lip 16 to engage recesses 17 cut in the key 13 for cooperating with the teeth 15 and rack 14 for holding the key in its seat.

A variation in the mechanism for locking the fish-plates 3 and l on the ends of the abutting rails, is shown in Fig. 6. The lugs 18 may be made cylindrical and nuts 19 screwed on the lugs. A spiral spring 21 is placed on the lugs 18 within the brace 9. Seats are cut in the fish plate 3 and. in the brace. 8 for the spring 21. The nuts 19 may be provided with ratchet teeth 20 to engage face racks on the fish plate 3 so that the nuts cannot be removed from the lugs without compressing the brace 9 and brace 8. The

spring 21 will cooperate with the brace 9 in ing openings therethrough and having racks in the outer Wall of the opening, toothed keys for entering said openings and engaging said racks, and compressible braces between the Webs of the rails and said last mentioned fish-plate.

In testimony whereof, I set my hand, this 29th day of April, 1916. p

e WATT. M. NICHOLS.

Copies of thispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, I). 0. 

